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\nSome people in Kentucky\u2019s jails are waiting more than a year for a competency evaluation.<\/p>\n
\nSome people in Kentucky\u2019s jails are waiting more than a year for a competency evaluation.<\/p>\n
The evaluation is needed before their case can move forward. However, the wait is so long, many of those behind bars are spending more time in jail than they would have served if convicted.<\/p>\n
Valerie Church is the directing attorney of the North Trial Office at the Kentucky Department of Public Advocacy. She says about 10 to 15 of her clients facing felony charges are awaiting a competency evaluation, delaying cases and causing court proceedings to stop dead in their tracks.<\/p>\n
A competency evaluation can be ordered by a judge, or the prosecution or defense and can be done as early as the arraignment or later down the line.<\/p>\n
However, the Kentucky Correctional Psychiatric Center is the only state-run psychiatric center that conducts these and it is based in La Grange.<\/p>\n
Bluegrass regional manager for the Department of Public Advocacy, Chris Tracy, says he carries his own caseload and the wait for an in-patient evaluation is now about a year. Some clients are waiting ten months, others as many as 18.<\/p>\n
He says the hold-up can be attributed to a few things like staffing, an increased need and a lack of resources.<\/p>\n
Most importantly, he worries for the mental health clients as well as the families of victims, who may not understand why this is going on.<\/p>\n
For many of these individuals behind bars, time is standing still, before anyone involved can begin the process to heal.
\nSource: WBKO<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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